Larson takes second for Dutch women’s program
Central Dutch Athletics
ANKENY — Katie Larson (freshman, Fort Madison) grabbed a runner-up finish in the C-Flight singles bracket at the American Rivers Conference Championships to highlight Saturday for the Central College women’s tennis team.
Larson was a 6-2, 7-5 winner in Saturday’s semifinal over Cory Eull of Luther College. She fell 6-1, 4-6, 10-6 in the championship match to Anna Spencer of the Norse.
“Katie played very tough,” coach Ryun Ferrell said. “She had beaten her first opponent earlier in the year so she was probably looking to get her a little bit.”
Also in the C-Flight, Macy Scharff (freshman, Oskaloosa) was beaten 6-3, 7-5 by Spencer in the semifinals and 6-1, 6-2 by Eull in the third-place match. The freshman was out of commission with mono much of the fall.
“She did great this entire weekend,” Ferrell said. ‘She tore people apart and played a ton of tennis. You’d never guess that she wasn’t feeling the greatest for the longest time.
“The future of Central tennis is looking bright,” Ferrell said. “Our freshmen have done an outstanding job.”
Lauren French and Isabella Hoppenhans of Coe College defeated Karleigh Schilling (sophomore, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) and Jenna Stewart (senior, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) in the A-Flight semifinals. Schilling and Stewart finished fourth after falling 8-3 against Hannah Fox and Ashley Rottinghaus of Wartburg College in the third-place match.
“We haven’t had anybody do that well since Angie Allgood and Megan Davis in 2015,” Ferrell said. “Those two played together four years. Basically, we put Karleigh and Jenna together for a little bit last spring and then this fall. To accomplish what they have in such a short time tells you how talented they are and competitive they are.”
Saturday was the final day of the fall season for the Dutch. The next match for Central is slated for March 11 at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.
